Origin

Old English scēoh was applied to horses meaning ‘easily frightened’. The word's application to people is seen from the start of the 17th century. The shy meaning ‘fling, throw’ of coconut shy is a late 18th-century word of unknown origin.

Origin

Old English scēoh was applied to horses meaning ‘easily frightened’. The word's application to people is seen from the start of the 17th century. The shy meaning ‘fling, throw’ of coconut shy is a late 18th-century word of unknown origin.